Bruneau Dunes State Park near my side of Idaho is the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America (470 feet). No vehicles allowed although you can hike up and ski or snowboard down. I did see a Lincoln Continental get stuck in some sand at a roadside pullout there one time.

St. Anthony looks like a bigger area than Bruneau; need to check that out. It's been years since I've been to Great Sand Dunes NP down in Colorado - it's a great spot too.

The first gear in the manually shifted CR-V tops out at about 10-15 mph, which is low enough to be a low gear.

Low gear is a feature of the transfer case, not of the transmission. This is an important distinction, as it allows larger torque to the driveshaft that the transmission is rated for. It will lower all gears, typically by a factor of 2 to 4. 1st gear on CR-V is nowhere near the needs for off-roading, nor is the low end torque available. You will fry the clutch - without the real 4Lo in transfer case. Also - even as the manual transmission may have lower crawl ratio, automatic is effectively adding torque converter ratio to it, so it crawls even better. Until you fry the transmission without the enhanced cooling that is.

Low gearing is made possible by a 2 speed transfer case, but all it does is provide additional mechanical advantage to the engine. It does not allow more torque to be applied to the driveshaft.

What is does is allow the engine to rev higher without turning the wheels faster. In high gears at 5mph, you might be turning the engine at something like 1,500 rpms. That's not an especially powerful spot in an ordinary engine's power curve. However, while in low gear at 5mph, the engine would turn at a higher rate (let's say 2,250 rpms). The higher rpm is likely to closer to the engine's peak output. Thus more torque at low speeds.

The 5MT CR-V does have a remarkable low first gear (and corresponding final drive). This is especially true of the 1st gen CR-V, but Gen 2 is also quite low. We compared the first Gen CR-V with the gearing a 2 speed tranny in a grand Vitara years ago and found that the CR-V's first gear was closer to L1 than it was to the Suzuki's H1.

The thing that makes automatics more desirable is control, not torque. The slushbox transfers power via a liquid medium and is not efficient. Torque is lost (wasted) during that transfer of power. However, because the transfer of power is done via a fluid connection, it is easier to modulate via the throttle. Aside from the fact that it is easier to work one pedal than two, you also don't have to worry (as much) about stalling the vehicle or applying too much power an accidentally lurching forward. With an auto, you trade a little power for a good deal more control.

The rest of your post is just as clueless, sorry. Have even done any offroading?

P.S. Any automatic will have about half of a crawl ratio in most cars - for the reason of torque multiplication.

And, yes, you may need both feet with automatic as well: example. Also explain why automatics do not always give you more control, as you assert. Read up - not as good as some actual experience, but helps nevertheless.

Just yesterday in Gearhart Oregon( between Seaside and Astoria). The CRV handles ok as long as you stay out of the deep sand as it is not made for that. It is better than a car but not a beachcomber not as good as my Forester.

I have (2) 07- CRV 4wd - Other poster is correct (It is not made for deep soft sand.) I go to the outer banks (Hatteras,NC) often, and always had a True 4x4. Have taken my CRV out a few times for play and it did ok. Did get stuck once in very deep soft sand,(yes my air pressure was lowered to 19) plus had (4) adults.Asking alot out of a small engine. With low ground clearance and small hsp it is not made for real sand. I love it for regular driving and am very pleased with it so far.